Archie's Clean Slate #[nn]
In "Hot Spot," Archie and Betty face a moment of moral challenge when their peers Jerry and Debbie dismiss their values. After a drunk Jerry crashes his car on the way home, leaving Debbie seriously injured, Archie and Betty rush to help—stepping in not just with action, but with compassion and faith. Written and illustrated by Al Hartley, this 1973 story blends quiet courage with heartfelt conviction, all captured in a cover by Al Hartley that mirrors the issue’s earnest tone.
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Archie and Betty are put down by Jerry and Debbie for maintaining high values. After school, a drunk Jerry drives Debbie home, and he has an accident, injurying Debbie badly. Archie and Betty come across the scene and quickly scramble to help the teens. Betty comforts Debbie and through the power of prayer and belief, Debbie decides she wants to live a better life.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).